Lecture Notes: How Pompey Became Rome's 'Greatest' General

Introduction

• Pompey the Great, celebrated Roman general.
• Expanded the Roman Republic's territories, particularly in the East.
• Involved in the First Triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus.
• Rome in political turmoil during Pompey's lifetime.

Early Life and Family Background

• Born Gnaeus Pompeius in 106 BC, from Picenum, Italy.
• Father: Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, a powerful local figure and a novus homo, became consul in 89 BC.
• Pompey joined politics at sixteen, supporting his father's consulship.

Rise to Prominence

• Served in the Social War under his father.
• Took over family estates and army at age 20 after his father's death.
• Supported Sulla's second march on Rome, raised three legions, gained military commands.

Military Campaigns

• Sicily and Africa (83-81 BC): Defeated Marian supporters, earned the nickname adulescentulus carnifex (young butcher).
• Spain (77-71 BC): Fought rebellious general Quintus Sertorius, struggled until gaining Senate support.
• Slave War (73-71 BC): Spartacus revolt; Crassus trapped Spartacus, Pompey claimed credit for the final defeat.

Political Career

• Elected consul in 70 BC with Crassus, repealed Sulla's limitations on Tribune of the Plebs.
• Commanded against Mediterranean piracy in 67 BC with lex Gabinia, succeeded in three months.

Eastern Campaigns

• Commanded by lex Manilia to defeat Mithridates in the East (66-63 BC).
• Conquered Syria, Judea, including the capture of Jerusalem.

Challenges in Rome

• Senators feared Pompey's power; refused his land grants and territorial approvals.
• First Triumvirate formed in 60 BC with Caesar and Crassus.
• Political alliance enabled Pompey to achieve land grants.

Decline and Fall

• First Triumvirate weakened after Crassus' death (53 BC).
• Appointed sole consul in 52 BC to restore order in Rome.
• Civil war with Caesar began in 49 BC after Caesar crossed the Rubicon.
• Defeated at Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, fled to Egypt, and assassinated in 48 BC.

Legacy

• Celebrated for military accomplishments, key player in Roman politics.
• Successful in multiple regions: Africa, Europe, Asia.
• Remembered for both triumphs and failures.